Wild Card Game: Ravens at Dolphins

The Dolphins finished with an 11-5 record and they are facing the Ravens who are also 11-5. The Dolphins have won their last five and Baltimore has won their last two. Miami is 5-3 at home, with one of those loses going to the Ravens. The Ravens went 5-3 on the road this season.

Quarterback Comparison

Name	QB Rating	Comp-Att	Comp %	Yards	TD-Int	Fumbles
Chad Pennington	97.4	321-476	67.4%	3,653	19-7	1
Joe Flacco	80.3	257-428	60.0%	2,971	14-12	5

Pennington is the better QB. It really does go without saying, though.

Rushing Comparison

Name	Carries	Yards	TDs	Catches	Yards	TDs
Ronnie Brown	214	916	10	33	254	0
Ricky Williams	160	659	4	29	219	1
Willis McGahee	170	671	7	24	173	0
Le'Ron McClain	232	902	10	19	123	1

It's not often I enclude two rushers from each team, but I felt it necessary. These two teams are very evenly matched with a good pair of rushers per team. The Dolphins use the passing game with their 'backs, more than the Ravens and that is the only edge I can give between the two teams.

Receiving Comparison

Name	Catches	Yards	TDs	Fumbles
Ted Ginn Jr.	56	790	2	3
Greg Camarillo	55	613	2	0
Davone Bess	54	554	1	0
Derrick Mason	80	1,037	5	2
Mark Clayton	41	695	3	0
Todd Heap	35	403	3	1

Ravens appear to have the upperhand in the receiving side of things.

Defense Comparison

Name	Tackles	Sacks	Ints-TD	Deflections
Yeremiah Bell	120	1.0	0-0	10
Joey Porter	47	17.5	0-0	1
Andre' Goodman	39	0.0	5-0	19
Ray Lewis	117	3.5	3-0	9
Terrell Suggs	68	8.0	2-2	9
Ed Reed	41	1.0	9-2	16

I just don't know if there is a better pass coverage than what the Ravens. Ed Reed has NINE picks with two touches. Their pass rush isn't as good, or as good as the Dolphins, but I think they make up for it in spades with the pass coverage.

Forecast: I am so impressed with the Ravens pass coverage, so impressed, that I really believe that can be the difference. The difference between a win and loss... Ravens take this one, 27-16.

Home Field